Post-Match Report

Match report: Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal

Auba

Manchester United -

Old Trafford
Premier League
Premier League
  Manchester United
   crest
Manchester United
0 - 1
  Arsenal
      
                  P. Aubameyang (69 pen)
            
   crest
Arsenal
P. Aubameyang (69 pen)

WHAT HAPPENED

A second-half penalty from captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave us a richly-deserved three points at Old Trafford - our first Premier League win there for 14 years.

We were the more positive side right from the opening exchanges, snapping into tackles and closing down well, and much of the opening quarter of an hour was played in the United half.

Our first sight of goal came when the overlapping Hector Bellerin fizzed a low ball across goal, but it was just ahead of the sliding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the far post.

Despite our superiority in terms of possession, it was United who had the first shot on target when Mason Greenwood ghosted in at the far post to draw a smart low save from Bernd Leno.

We kept driving forward. Alexandre Lacazette had the ball nicked off his toes inside the area when he was about to pull the trigger while Willian fired against the bar after a neat one two with Aubameyang.

But the best chance of the half came late on. Bukayo Saka then headed over from a glorious position in front of goal, set up by Bellerin's pinpoint cross.

Aubameyang sent a shot just wide at the start of the second half before Thomas Partey brought a save from David De Gea with a fierce drive.

We certainly deserved the lead when it came. We had been knocking at the door and finally went ahead from the penalty spot. Bellerin was brought down in the area by Paul Pogba and Aubameyang strode up to tuck home from 12 yards and end a personal five-game scoreless run in the Premier League.

We came under much more pressure in the final ten minutes and United hit the post late on when a Donny van de Beek shot cannoned off Mohamed Elneny and then the upright.

But hang on we did, to record our first Premier League win at Old Trafford since 2006.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Click here to relive the game play-by-play

TEAM NEWS

Mikel Arteta made three changes from our defeat to Leicester last weekend, bringing back Rob Holding from injury to replace David Luiz, with Mohamed Elneny recalled to midfield at Granit Xhaka's expense. Willian also returned with Dani Ceballos making way. Alexandre Lacazette retained his place as the centre forward with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang once again starting from wide on the left.

MATCH FACTS

We restricted to Manchester United to just one shot in the first half, the fewest they have had at home in the Premier League in the opening 45 minutes since October 2015.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang became the first Arsenal player to score at Old Trafford in consecutive Premier League seasons since Emmanuel Adebayor in 2006/07 and 2007/08.

We are unbeaten in our last five league games against Manchester United.

Mikel Arteta became just the second manager in Arsenal history to win both of his first two games against Manchester United, after Herbert Chapman in 1925/26

WHAT IT MEANS

Premier League table

WHAT'S NEXT

We return to Emirates Stadium for two games next week - first on Thursday against Molde in the Europa League, then back in the Premier League against Aston Villa on the Sunday.